PARTNER
Overview
Peter C. Lewis, a partner in the firm’s Dallas office, has over 36 years of experience devoted to business reorganizations, creditors’ rights, business litigation and business transactions with particular emphasis on business bankruptcies, workouts and debt restructurings, complex business litigation and disputes, commercial collections/fair debt collection defense, receiverships as well as public finance. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Lewis was a partner at one of the largest (Dallas-based) law firms in the country as well as another national law firm. He has also served as outside general or national counsel for small to major manufacturing/ service companies, is AV rated by his peers (highest possible rating in both legal ability and ethical standards) and has been previously cited as one of only 176 attorneys nationwide for providing superior client service to Fortune 100 companies and was named one of D Magazine’s Best Lawyers in Dallas for 2018.
Experience
Over the past 36 years, has represented companies, shareholders/investors, secured and unsecured creditors, asset purchasers, pre-petition lenders and DIP lenders in all types and phases of small to complex business bankruptcy, reorganization, workout, debt restructuring, creditors’ rights and related litigation matters throughout the country.
- Former Chapter 7 Panel Trustee for the Northern District of Texas
- Served as a debtor co-counsel in the Energy Futures Holding, Inc., et al., Chapter 11 case
- Represented the City of Fort Worth and the AllianceAirport Authority, Inc. in the American Airlines Chapter 11 case
- Represented creditors in some of the largest retail Chapter 11 cases filed over the last few decades (e.g., Best Buy, Linens & Things, Radio Shack, Borders, Urban Brands, Circuit City, Movie Gallery, Ducane Gas Grills)
- Defended major U.S. corporations in scores of bankruptcy preference actions across the nation including a multimillion dollar preference matter against a major multinational corporation that was settled on extremely favorable terms for the client
- Successfully tried several fraud complaints on behalf of bank/savings and loans institutions including a complaint resulting in a multi-million dollar judgment in connection with first bank to close in Fort Worth since the Depression
- Represented major bank in Chapter 11 proceeding of one of the first subprime lender Chapter 11 cases; secured lender’s claim totaling in excess of $20 million was paid in full
- Represented the FDIC as a secured creditor in Chapter 11 reorganization cases involving office buildings, shopping centers, manufacturing concerns and/or oil and gas operations
- Represented major investor and secured creditor in Chapter 11 reorganization of television/movie syndication business resulting in confirmation of Chapter 11 plan
- Represented consortium of private equity secured lenders in successful Chapter 11 reorganization of a Florida-based wireless phone carrier resulting in confirmation of Chapter 11 plan
- Represented shopping center owners in chapter 11 case of national restaurant chain (Golden Corral) resulting in recovery of unpaid rent, taxes and CAM charges as well as the favorable resolution of contentious litigation regarding a rent dispute.
Associations
- Member, Dallas Bar Association
- John Ford Inns of Court
- J.L. Turner Legal Association
- Texas Bar Foundation
- American Creditors Association
Education
- Juris Doctor, Columbia University School of Law, 1981
- Bachelor of Arts, Princeton University, 1978
Community
Board Member and/or Past Officer:
- Texas Public Finance Authority
- Alcuin School
- Baylor Hospital System Foundation
- North Texas Volunteer Center
- Goodwill Industries
- Dallas Historical Society
- Dallas Symphony
- Mental Health Assn. of Dallas
- Head Start
- President’s Advisory Committee, Dallas Center for the Performing Arts
Honors
- Selected in “Best Lawyers in Dallas” list, D Magazine, 2018, 2020
- Selected as one of the “Texas’ Top Rated Lawyers for 2014 in Bankruptcy” by Legal Leaders Magazine
- AV rated by peers (highest possible rating in both legal ability and ethical standards), 1990-2020
Practice Areas
- Collections
- Banking Litigation & Foreclosures
- Loan Workouts
- Loan Negotiation & Documentation
- Regulatory Research
- Bankruptcy Chapter 11/Chapter 7
- Bankruptcy Litigation/Transactions
- Chapter 7 Trustee Representation
- Collections/Creditors Rights
- Construction Litigation
- Contract Negotiation
- Delay & Impact Claims
- Design Malpractice
- Government Contracts
- Lien & Bond Claims
- Contract Drafting & Negotiation
- Corporate Entity Disputes
- Corporate Finance
- Corporate Governance
- Corporate Reorganization
- Direct Selling/ Multi-Level Marketing
- Entity Selection & Business Formation
- Joint Ventures & Partnerships
- Shareholder Disputes
- Venture Capital Transactions
- Copyright Litigation
- E-Commerce
- Internet & Social Media
- Licensing & Technology Transfers
- Media & Entertainment
- Trademark Prep & Prosecution
- Trade Secret Litigation
- Trademark Litigation
- Banking Litigation & Foreclosures
- Construction Litigation
- Computer Fraud & Privacy Litigation
- Copyright Litigation
- Cyber Insurance Coverage & Litigation
- Direct Sales & Regulatory Matters
- Employment Litigation
- Insurance Defense
- Oil & Gas Litigation
- Product Liability Litigation
- Professional Liability
- Real Estate Litigation
- Securities Fraud Litigation
- Securities Litigation & Arbitration
- State & Federal Appeals
- Transfer Tax and Probate Litigation
- Trade Secret Litigation
- Trademark Litigation
- Corporate & Partnership Taxation
- Federal Taxation
- Franchise Taxation
- International Tax Planning
- Property Tax Disputes
- Sales & Local Taxation
Admissions
- U.S. District and/or Bankruptcy Courts for the Northern District, Eastern, Western and Southern Districts of Texas
- Third Circuit Courts of Appeals
- Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals